The Dental Lighthouse with Dr. Jason Tanoory

Two dental practices. Two very different opportunities. One major decision. In this episode of The Dental Lighthouse Podcast, Dr. Jason sits down with a young dentist, referred to as Dr. B, who is considering purchasing one of two established dental practices. Both have retiring owners, similar locations, and opportunities for growth, but each comes with its own set of challenges and potential. Jason walks through the financials, patient flow, staffing, insurance participation, and long-term growth potential of each practice, highlighting the factors that matter most when evaluating an acquisition. From identifying hidden opportunities for increased production to understanding the limitations of a four-operatory practice, he shares what prospective buyers should be looking for beyond the asking price. The conversation also explores practice valuations, negotiating PPO fees, managing patient transitions, and whether acquiring an existing practice makes more financial sense than starting from scratch. Whether you're actively considering practice ownership or simply want to better understand the business side of dentistry, this episode offers a practical look at the questions worth asking before making one of the biggest investments of your career.

Promoting someone to office manager doesn’t automatically make them a leader. And if you give them more responsibility without the training, clarity, or time to actually do the job, you may be setting them up to fail. In this episode of Ramblings with Jason and Dr. Nacho, Dr. Jason sits down with Dr. Paul Goodman to talk about one of the most important and often overlooked roles in a dental practice: the office manager. They unpack why simply giving someone a new title isn’t enough and how unclear expectations can leave office managers juggling patient-facing tasks while the leadership, accountability, and team development responsibilities they were promoted to handle fall through the cracks. Jason and Paul discuss what an office manager should actually be responsible for, the difference between managing systems and leading people, and how the role should evolve as a practice grows. They also explore why great team members often default to the work they’re already comfortable doing instead of tackling difficult conversations, coaching, and accountability. Most importantly, they challenge practice owners to look at the capacity they’re giving their leaders. If you’re adding five to ten hours of leadership responsibilities without taking anything else off their plate, something has to give. From creating dedicated “emergency operations” time to getting clearer about roles and expectations, this conversation offers practical ways to help your office manager lead successfully instead of simply survive the position.

What do you do when the schedule starts opening up, new patient numbers dip, or production isn’t where you expected it to be? The answer probably isn’t to panic, blame the market, or immediately throw more money at marketing. In this episode, Dr. Jason is joined by Ryan Gross of CMO Share and Dr. Addison Killeen for an off-the-cuff conversation about navigating the inevitable ups and downs of dental practice ownership. They discuss how mindset can shape team performance, why practice owners need to understand their numbers before reacting to them, and how leading indicators like treatment presented, case acceptance, new patient conversion, and total appointments can reveal where the real problem lies. The conversation also gets tactical, covering hygiene cancellations, ASAP lists, patient scheduling, financial conversations, case acceptance, and why owners need to spend more time observing and coaching their teams instead of getting buried in low-value tasks. Ryan and Addison also share their perspectives on cancellation fees, same-day scheduling, ghost columns, and preparing for historically slower months before they arrive. If you’ve ever looked at a bad week or month and wondered whether you need to change everything, this episode is a reminder to get curious before getting reactive, look at the full picture, and focus your energy on the decisions that actually move the practice forward.

When you notice something feels off with a team member, is it better to give it time or address it before a small issue becomes a bigger one? In this episode of The Dental Lighthouse Podcast, Dr. Jason shares an excerpt from a recent coaching call with a practice owner who noticed a shift in the attitude and engagement of one of his strongest team members. Rather than assuming the problem would resolve itself, Jason encourages him to approach the situation with curiosity, care, and a willingness to have the conversation. Jason explains why changes in a team member’s energy, behavior, or demeanor should not automatically be viewed as performance problems. Sometimes the most effective leadership move is simply creating space to ask what is going on, listen without judgment, and make sure the person knows they are valued and supported. He also explores one of the most common leadership traps: knowing a conversation needs to happen but repeatedly putting it off because something else feels more urgent. While avoiding the conversation may be easier in the moment, the team member, the practice, and even the patients can ultimately pay the price. If you have ever noticed a team member disengaging, avoided a conversation because you were unsure how to approach it, or hoped an uncomfortable situation would simply work itself out, this episode is a reminder that strong leadership often starts with being willing to ask the question.

When hiring an associate dentist, what matters more: strong clinical skills or strong communication skills? In this episode of Ramblings with Jason and Dr. Nacho, Dr. Jason Tanoory and Dr. Paul Goodman tackle a question that sparked plenty of debate: Would you rather hire an associate with 8/10 clinical skills and 5/10 communication skills, or 5/10 clinical skills and 8/10 communication skills? While 73% of respondents chose the stronger communicator, Jason and Paul both landed on the less popular choice. They break down why improving communication may be easier than correcting clinical deficiencies, especially for practice owners who are already busy treating their own patients. From coaching associates on the language they use with patients to stepping into the operatory to troubleshoot crown preps, they discuss the very different demands each type of development places on an owner. Jason also shares a real example of having to provide hands-on clinical coaching to an associate and why those situations can quickly become difficult for owners who are still heavily tied to the chair. Jason and Paul explore how mentorship capacity, emotional intelligence, coachability, and the realities of running a busy practice should all factor into the decision. If you are hiring an associate or trying to develop the doctors already on your team, this conversation will challenge you to think about which skills you can realistically teach and where you need someone to be strong from day one.